ans of both parties were small, we were
young, and able and willing to help one another. Nanse, out of her
wages, had hained a trifle; and I had safe lodged under lock-and-key in
the Bank of Scotland, against the time of my setting up, the siller which
was got by selling the bit house of granfaither's, on the death of my
ever-to-be-lamented mother, who survived her helpmate only six months,
leaving me an orphan lad in a wicked world, obliged to fend, forage, and
look out for myself.

Taking matters into account, therefore, and considering that it is not
good for man to be alone, Nanse and me laid our heads together towards
the taking a bit house in the fore-street of Dalkeith; and at our leisure
kept a look-out about buying the plenishing--the expense of which, for
different littles and littles, amounted to more than we expected; yet, to
our hearts' content, we made some most famous second-hand bargains of
sprechery, amongst the old-furniture warehousemen of the Cowgate. I
might put down here the prices of the room-grate, the bachelor's oven,
the cheese-toaster, and the warming-pan especially, which, though it had
a wheen holes in it, kept a fine polish; but, somehow or other, have lost
the receipt, and cannot make true affidavy.

Certain it is, whatever cadgers may say to the contrary, that the back is
aye made for the burden; and, were all to use the means, and be
industrious, many, that wyte bad harvests, and worse times, would have,
like the miller in the auld sang, "A penny in the purse for dinner and
for supper," or better to finish the verse, "Gin ye please a guid fat
cheese, and lumps of yellow butter."

For two three days, I must confess, after Maister Wiggie had gone through
the ceremony of tying us together, and Nanse and me found ourselves in
the comfortable situation of man and wife, I was a wee dowie and
desponding, thinking that we were to have a numerous small family, and
where trade was to come from; but no sooner was my sign nailed up, with,
four iron hold-fasts, by Johnny Hammer, painted in black letters on a
blue ground, with a picture of a jacket on one side, and a pair of shears
on the other,--and my shop-door opened to the public, with a wheen ready-
made waistcoats, gallowses, leather-caps and Kilmarnock cowls, hung up at
the window, than business flowed in upon us in a perfect torrent. First
one came in for his measure, and then another. A wife came in for a pair
of red worsted boots for h